Canada must do more to relieve debt facing sex trafficking survivors

On July 30, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons will put a global spotlight on human trafficking, but the reality is human trafficking profoundly affects people across Canada every single day. While as a nation we are starting to recognize the disturbing prevalence of human trafficking occurring in Canada, many people are unaware of the devastating effects that can follow victims into their recovery, including financial exploitation and an average debt of $20,000. Carly Kalish. Handout photograph Imagine for a moment that you are a victim of sex trafficking. Imagine finding the strength and opportunity to escape this horrific situation. Then imagine discovering that debt has been incurred in your name, and you are being chased by institutions to pay for the very tools that were used to exploit you. This is not an imaginary situation, but the stark reality facing many victims of human trafficking in Canada. Fraudulent or coercive debt is very real, and is one of the biggest barriers to a victim’s recovery. Without assistance and debt elimination, it is highly likely that survivors will be trafficked again. So how does it happen? Fraudulent or coercive debt is established when the victim’s identity is stolen by their traffickers, or they are forced to open a credit card in their own name and pay for items or services that support their trafficking such as cell phones, hotel rooms and transportation. This fraud stays with the survivor long after they’ve escaped, overburdening them, and often taking them by surprise. Survivors cannot get credit, a job, or safe housing, thereby drastically impeding their recovery. Victim Services Toronto works with human trafficking survivors every day. We see the shock and despair victims feel when they discover their road to recovery begins by paying back their traffickers’ debt. Most of them were just teenagers when they were first trafficked, and the mountain of trauma and setbacks each victim must overcome to reclaim their life seems that much more insurmountable when faced with approximately $20,000 in debt. This is absurd. No person should ever be held liable for the financial instruments through which they were bought and sold. The national Reclaim program, run by Victim Services Toronto, helps human trafficking survivors across Canada rebuild their lives. The only program of its kind in Canada, Reclaim advocates for survivors by helping to remove fraudulent or coercive debt in their name so that they can move towards reclaiming their life and identity. The program’s success hinges on the support of many different groups, and we applaud our partners in Reclaim that are helping us to make a difference: creditors, survivor advocates and agencies, law enforcement, government and policy makers, and of course our donors. Thanks to their support, the program has removed $1-million in fraudulent or coercive debt to date. Through Reclaim, we’re just getting started, but as a nation, we need to do more. As we approach World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, it is crucial to address the shortcomings of our system, and to accelerate action to #EndHumanTrafficking. As an organization, Victim Services Toronto is advocating for change within the legal system to help bring more traffickers to justice. We were also part of a coalition that helped pass the Protection from Coerced Debts Incurred in Relation to Human Trafficking Act in Ontario in December 2023, and are now assisting other provinces to enact similar legislation to prevent further exploitation of survivors. While we are working for systemic change, we encourage every Canadian to get involved. Learn about human trafficking. Speak out on the issue. Educate young people in your life. Keep the lines of communication open. Watch for the signs of human trafficking with those you love. Let everyone know help is available and support organizations working tirelessly to change the lives of those affected. Together, we can make a difference. Please know that if you’re a survivor of human trafficking facing financial exploitation, or if you’re advocating for a survivor, help is available across Canada through Victim Services Toronto. Learn more about the Reclaim program at VictimServicesToronto.com/reclaim. Carly Kalish is the executive director at Victim Services Toronto. She is the recipient of the Toronto Police Services “Leading the Path Award,” Toronto Foundation’s “Vital People Grant,” and the Ontario Attorney General’s “Victim Services Award” for her dedication to working with survivors of gender-based violence. The Hill Times